Jeez, how would the casino’s go about that. Besides raising the rake I don’t see how else they could do it.
The house always wins already because they profit off you whether you win or lose. Raising the rake would make players want to avoid high raked casino’s, thus the house would be losing money from potential players in the long run.
I just read that book! Damn, its a small world. Wanna go to Vegas next weekend? 
Of course, we might get “backroomed” by some casino thugs. But, hey, thats life.
IIRC that same book also explains that counting cards when multiple decks are in play is much easier than people think.
How about this, suppose that each player at the blackjack table could see only their hand and the dealer’s hand, not anyone else’s? Deck is reshuffled after each round. I’d think that would make card counting extremely difficult.
OK, here’s my thoughts. I may have some of this wrong, feel free to correct me.
Card counting is not all that tricky to do. The difficult calculations are done before you go in, and you memorize the turning point (where you switch from low betting to high betting). Once you’re in, the only thing you have to do is remember the turning points and keep track of where each deck is. Many books will have the calculations all done and the method laid out for you.
Card counting gives you a very small advantage. I recall hearing that a card counter who makes a single large bet error per hour loses his entire advantage. A card counter who makes two errors per hour is actually playing worse than he would be playing by using proper non-card-counting techniques and betting a constant amount. So throwing away bets to throw the trail, as it were, is goign to make you a (likely) net loser.
Card counting is not illegal if you don’t use any assistance to keep track of the cards for you. They can throw you out for it, sure, and blacklist you as well, butyou aren’t going to jail. They may make your stay in Vegas rather difficult though if your winnings make it worth it for them to do that.
Card counting is one of two ways I am aware of in which a player’s skill can overcome a casino’s edge. The other way is much more difficult however, and involves perfect play on certain video poker machines (which is much harder to do than card counting). As the casino depends on having an advantage in every game every time, any easy way to beat the odds is going to be against house rules, plain and simple. I wouldn’t call card-counting immoral, or even call it cheating, but they will reserve their right to harass you for it and throw you out.
And that’s why I won’t play blackjack at casinos. i’m not comfortable with having to limit my strategic options in order to make someone else profit at my expense. But that’s just me.
I watched a program about the same group. It said that the casinos will often let a player who is card counting continue because many card counters are simply not very good at it.
Anyway, it is my opinion it is immoral to card count if the rules of a casino clearly prohibit said activity. Outside of rainman, it is seems unlikely that anyone can count without specifically trying to do so. If it is not explicitly forbidden, then everything is fair. Including, of course, the casino choosing to throw you out if they detect you counting, and are demonstrating proficiency at it!
I think your first paragraph makes it clear that the conditional of your second paragraph is false. If casinos either allow or disallow card counting at a whim (depending on how good you are at it), they obviously are not “clearly” prohibiting it.
In theory, it’s simplicity itself. In practice, it’s extremely difficult. Card-counters devote a great deal of time and effort to practicing. IMO, it’s not worth it for the very small advantage you might get.
Maybe on an individual basis since it’s much easier for the casino to spot a single person doing it, however some of the card-counting teams (like those in Bringing Down The House) made an awful lot of money before they got busted.
I think this has been implied by several posters, but it is completely wrong to compare casino gambling with a game, and to discuss cheating.
I have played international chess, which is a game made as fair as can be.
There are referees present to enforce the laws. The idea is that the most skilful player will win, and everything is designed to achieve that.
Casinos are a business, run for profit.
They offer gambling in plush surroundings, with food, drink and entertainment to tempt you to stay. They employ staff, heat and light the buildings and pay taxes.
The idea is that the casino will not only cover its costs, but make a profit over that.
Gamblers are encouraged to stay at the tables by the absence of any reminders of what time it is. Nobody says to a bad gambler “You should stop now, before you lose a lot of money!”. If you offer to bring a lot of gamblers to a casino, they will offer help with transport and accomodation costs. All gambling in casinos makes money for the casino. Either the odds favour them (two zeroes on a US roulette wheel :eek: ), or they take a rake of the pot. Since card counting cuts into casino profits, they outlaw it.
It has nothing to do with ethics or rules or cheating. The casinos don’t want anyone to use skill to beat them.
Absolutely. It’s not about moral or immoral. Casinos will allow you to use any “system” you like, unless you use the one system that happens to actually work, at which point they kick you out.
And blackjack is all about estimating the odds that the next card will take you closer to 21, or break you, vs the odds that the dealer will beat you. Keeping track of which cards have been dealt is part of this.